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[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Tropical storm Georges continues to park itself over the Gulf Coast dumping up to two feet of rain.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And a Supreme Court decision could come today for condemned killer Tommy David Strickler.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

As Melanie mentioned, Georges is still bringing flooding rains, but it'll likely be downgraded to a tropical depression later today.
Meanwhile, OUR local forecast stays dry for the most part and a bit cooler.
Details, straight ahead.
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

((HURRICANE GEORGE CONTINUES TO LEAVE HIS MARK ON THE GULF COAST. THE
STORM'S WINDS HAVE DROPPED TO TROPICAL STORM LEVELS, -- BUT THAT HASN'T
STOPPED THE RAIN FROM FALLING.
THERE'S MASSIVE FLOODING FROM LOUISIANA TO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
SUPER: Mobile, AL
BECAUSE GEORGES IS MOVING SO SLOWLY, FORECASTERS PREDICT SOME PARTS
COULD GET AS MUCH AS 30 INCHES OF RAIN BY MIDWEEK.AND THAT'S BAD NEWS
FOR FOLKS IN MOBILE ALABAMA, WHERE MUCH OF THAT CITY IS ALREADY UNDER
WATER.
(SOT: J.P. Vanhook, Dir. Mobile Emerg. Management)
"Right now my biggest concern is the storm surge and the people affected
in the low lying areas."
GEORGES BLEW DOWN TREES AND KNOCKED OUT POWER TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES:
SOT:
"I WAS REAL SCARED.. I WAS SCARED THE ROOF WOULD FALL IN ON US."
((TRACK 2))
SUPER: Biloxi, MS
ROOFS WERE BLOWN OFF AT TWO SHELTERS WHERE 500 PEOPLE WERE
SEEKING REFUGE...NO ONE INJURED. ))
[Live=Drew Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=05-Biloxi, MS;]
( ad lib)

[E-Strickler]

The fate of convicted killer Tommy David Strickler may be announced today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Augusta Co./File Tape]

Strickler was scheduled to die September 16th for the 1990 murder of Roanoke native Le-ann Whitlock.
But the Supreme Court delayed his execution to decide whether he received a fair trial.
The case was scheduled for conference yesterday.
A ruling could be issued today.
(------------)

[S-Appomattox-Murder]

A man from Lynchburg will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars-- for his part in a murder in Appomattox County.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox/File Tape]

20-year old Trevor Jones was given two life terms plus 35 years for the murder of Lisa Yvonne Crider in May, 1997.
Jones and his accomplice.. Brandon Wayne Hedrick kidnapped, robbed and sodomized Crider.. then shot her in the head and dumped her body in the James River.
Jones told a jury that Hedrick was the one who fired the fatal shot.. Hedrick got the death penalty.
Prosecutor Tommy Lawson says both sentences were "proper".
(----------------)

[S-Humphries]

Carrol Eugene Humphries will not be going home anytime soon, but he won't be extradited to West Virginia either-- at least not yet.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Covington;]

The Covington man is charged with murder in Greenbrier County for allegedly hiring two men to kill a romantic rival 20 years ago.
In court yesterday, Humphries' lawyers tried unsuccessfully to convince the judge to release him.
They claimed the extradition warrant is no good, because it wrongly labels Humphries a fugitive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:39:28]
[IN Q=Mr. Humphries has fully]
((BILL PARKS/DEFENSE ATTORNEY; MR. HUMPHRIES HAS FULLY COOPERATED WITH EVERY INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY, THE ATF, THE FBI, THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE POLICE, THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE, AND WE BELIEVE NOW THAT SOMEBODY OUT THERE'S MAKING A DEAL, AND HE IS BEING VICTIMIZED AGAIN))
[SUPER=01-Bill Parks/Defense Attorney;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=victimized again]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Humphries appealed the judge's decision, so his extradition will be delayed for another 30 days.
His fight may outlast the Alleghany County jail itself, where he's being held without bond.
The jail is about to be demolished, and all inmates will be relocated by the end of the week.
(------------)

[S-Jail-Ministry]

Danville inmates have been hearing God's word for 20 years, thanks to a Danville ministry.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Good News Jail and Prison Ministry came to Danville in 1978.
It provides inmates with a full-time chaplain, worship services, and bible studies.
Former inmate Nancy Frazier says the ministry helped her find God and herself.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 22:39:19-:29]
[IN Q=I came in as a Christain]
((NANCY FRAZIER/FORMER INMATE: I CAME IN AS A CHRISTIAN AND I THOUGHT THAT I KNEW THE LORD AND I THOUGHT THAT WHAT I WAS DOING WAS RIGHT BUT I WAS WRONG AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM STRAIGHTENED THAT OUT FOR ME.))
[SOT 22:30:59-:06]
((DAVID ABERNATHY/SENIOR CHAPLAIN: THE IDEA OF PUTTING A CHAPLAIN IN, A PASTOR IN THE FACILITY IS TO REALLY BRING A LIGHT TO A DARK PLACE.))
[SUPER=01-Nancy Frazier/Former Inmate; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Abernathy/Senior Chaplain; :11]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=light to a dark place.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The ministry believes it can break the cycle of crime one life at a time.
So far this year, the ministry has counseled more than 700-inmates.
(----------------)

[1-Sports]

In sports, Monday Night football proves to be the remedy for the ailing Detroit Lions.
Denise Allen has the highlights.
Good Morning Denise.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good Tuesday]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=a good day.]

[EMBRYOS]

A family court judge in New Jersey has sided with the wife in a divorce dispute over the fate of seven frozen embryos.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Camden, NJ;]

The judge has ordered the fertilized eggs be destroyed but he put his ruling on hold while the husband appeals.
He wants the embryos preserved so he can use them with another woman or donate them to an infertile couple.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=my client wants them]
((AMY GOLDSTEIN/WIFE'S LAWYER:MY CLIENT WANTS THEM DESTROYED BECAUSE SHE'S NO LONGER INTERESTED IN HAVING CHILDREN WITH HER FORMER HUSBAND.
ERIC SPEVAK/HUSBAND'S LAWYER:WE FEELY STRONGLY THAT MY CLIENT SHOULD HAVE CHANCE...TO CHOOSE LIFE. ))
[SUPER=01-Amy Goldstein/Wife's Attorney; ]
[SUPER=01-Eric Spevak/Husband's Attorney; :06]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=to choose life.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meanwhile, a New Jersey legislator is introducing a bill requiring couples to enter into binding agreements about the fate of embryos.
(----------------)

[S-Wilderness-Academy]

The fate of a troubled Botetourt County boys school is in the hands of state education education officials.
They heard evidence dealing with the Wilderness Leadership Academy yesterday.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

Colonel Gene Nervo declined to discuss the allegations against his school.
He also insisted reporters be banned from the hearing on allegations of student violence, staff negligence, and boys who say they were sexually assaulted by each other.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:06:38]
[IN Q=We are]
((ROBERT WHYTAL/STATE HEARING EXAMINER: WE ARE JUST HEARING EVIDENCE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO COMMENT FURTHER ABOUT THAT. And so you would then make a recommendation? THAT IS CORRECT. And who does that recommendation go to? THAT RECOMMENDATION WOULD GO TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Whytal/State Hearing Examiner;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=Public Instruction.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./File Tape;]

If the state superintendent decides NOT to renew the Wilderness Leadership Academy's license, state officials say that will be a first in Virginia.
(-------0---------)

[S-Bike-Rodeo]

The 12-year old boy hit by a car last week in Danville remains in critical condition.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Last Tuesday;]

Antone (AN-TWAN) Green was riding his bike near Gibson Middle School when the accident happened.
He was flown to Duke University Medical Center with serious head injuries.
[SUPER=03-Danville/Yesterday;]

That accident is a vivid example why it's so important to teach bicycle safety to kids.
At Schoolfield Elementary in Danville yesterday afternoon, 130-students took part in a bike rodeo.
With helmets on, the children practiced their riding skills.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 3:02:39-:54]
[IN Q=The bicycles are considered]
((STEVE ANDERSON/DANVILLE POLICE: THE BICYCLES ARE CONSIDERED VEHICLES LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLES AND THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WE MUST TEACH THEM AND PARENTS NEED TO BE AWARE OF AND SUPPORT THAT AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS OF COURSE PUTTING THE HELMETS ON.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Anderson/Danville Police;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=putting the helmets on.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

A local State Farm Insurance agency has sponsored this bike rodeo for the last three years.
(----------------)

[5-Womens-Shelter]

Franklin County is tripling the space of its shelter for homeless and abused women.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

23 women and children should be able to move into the new shelter within a month.
It's right next door to the old shelter.
Director Cynthia Treadway says there's a desperate need for the new rooms.
She turns away about 80 women and 100 children a year for lack of space.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:24:29]
[IN Q=I don't think]
((CYNTHIA TREADWAY/SHELTER DIRECTOR: I DON'T THINK THERE ARE MORE AND MORE VICTIMS. I THINK THERE IS MORE AND MORE AWARENESS OF WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS IN A RELATIONSHIP. AND MORE PEOPLE WILLING TO COME FORWARD WITH IT. THEY FOUND OUT THERE IS SOMEBODY OUT THERE WHO REALLY CARES AND WILL HELP THEM ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT AND EVEN AFTERWARDS.))
[SUPER=01-Cynthia Treadway/Shelter Director;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=all the way through it and even afterwards]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The shelter cost more than 500-thousand dollars, mostly grant money.
Local businesses donated some of the furniture and appliances.
(------------)

[Health-Check]

In medical news, researchers say there's no gender gap when it comes to recovering from heart surgery.
Rick Jackson has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good Morning]
[SUPER=01-Rick Jackson/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((((on camera))
GOOD MORNING.
DESPITE PREVIOUS STUDIES, RESEARCHERS NOW SAY WOMEN DO JUST AS WELL
AS MEN AFTER HEART SURGERY.
VT=VO
((vo))
EARLIER FINDINGS HAD SHOWN THAT WOMEN WHO UNDERWENT HEART BYPASS
SURGERY--OR AN ARTERY CLEARING ANGIOPLASTY--WERE MORE THAN TWICE AS
LIKELY TO DIE AS MEN.
BUT A STUDY IN TODAY'S EDITION OF THE JOURNAL, CIRCUATION, SAYS
THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.
IT FOUND THAT SURVIVAL RATES REMAINED ABOUT THE SAME FOR BOTH
SEXES--EVEN FIVE YEARS AFTER SURGERY.
DOCTORS CREDIT TREATMENTS THAT ARE NOW TAYLORED TO FEMALE PATIENTS.//
VT=VO
((vo))
MEANWHILE, SCIENTISTS SAY THERE'S NEW EVIDENCE THAT VITAMIN E CAN
FIGHT HEART DISEASE.
RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FOUND THAT MICE WITH
ARTERIO-SCLEROSIS... HAD 40-PERCENT FEWER HEART LESIONS AFTER BEING
GIVEN VITAMIN E FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.
THE LESIONS IN THE MICE WERE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND IN HUMANS.//
VT=VO
((vo))
PREGNANT WOMEN EXPOSED TO SECONDHAND SMOKE MAY INCREASE THEIR FETUS'
CHANCES OF DEVELOPING CANCER LATER IN LIFE.
ACCORDING TO A REPORT PUBLISHED IN NEXT MONTH'S ISSUE OF NATURE
MEDICINE...
BABIES BORN TO EXPOSED MOTHERS SHOWED HIGHER RATES OF A CERTAIN GENE
MUTATION THAT'S OFTEN FOUND IN CHILDHOOD CANCERS.
THE STUDY, HOWEVER, DOES NOT SHOW A DIRECT LINK TO CANCER... OR HOW
GREAT
A RISK SECONDHAND SMOKE MIGHT POSE TO AN UNBORN CHILD.//
AND THAT IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS.
I'M RICK JACKSON, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))
(ad lib to weather)

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

What was Hurricane Georges is still threatening the Gulf Coast.
Forecasters say it could dump another 20 inches of rain on the area, and there's also the threat of tornadoes.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

For the second time this year G-E in Salem announces a big layoff.
This time it affected some 100 salaried employees.
This round of layoffs brings the year's total to 345, about 20 percent of the Salem workforce.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[ss=none]

Nine years after the Giants knocked the Cubs out of the playoffs, Chicago exacted some revenge.
The Cubs beat San Francisco 5-3 last night to win the wild card spot in the National League playoffs.
The cubs haven't been to the World Series since 19-45.
(----------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this .
[anchor=Melanie]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[E-GE-Layoffs]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-53; 1:25:14]
[GRAPHIC=General Electric]
[THERE IS AN ANCHOR TAG !!!]
A hundred people won't be going back to work at Salem's General Electric plant.
Yesterday G-E laid off a group of salaried workers to boost the company's bottom line.
As Scott Goldberg reports, this was the plant's second big layoff this year.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=After a morning]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :01]
[SUPER=01-Marsha Robinson/Laid-Off Worker; :12]
[SUPER=@Scott2; :40]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=SG, NEWS-7,SALEM]
(([*************THIS IS THE STORY FROM 5PM, TAPE 598-31, JUST ADD LAST CART SEGMENT ********************]
[ANY NAT SOUND OF CARS COMING OUT OF LOT???]
After a morning meeting with supervisors, most of General Electric's one-thousand salaried workers left for lunch.
Some, like Marsha Robinson, left for good.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11 31 22]
[IN Q=I ... I]
((MARSHA ROBINSON: I...I...I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY OTHER THAN GE'S A GOOD COMPANY. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF BUSINESS.))

[RUNS09]
[OUT Q=of business]

Robinson is one of the hundred administrative workers...what G-E calls "support" workers...who were let go.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11 32 10]
[IN Q= i was a sourcing]
((MARSHA ROBINSON: I WAS A SOURCING ASSOCIATE. I WORKED WITH BUYERS. (SIGH) IT WAS A NICE JOB.))
[RUNS06]
[OUT Q=nice job]

This round of layoffs brings the year's total to 345 people -- roughly 20 percent of the Salem workforce.
Many employees wonder how long this can go on.
It used to be that business slowed down, but didn't stay that way, and G-E rehired some of the laid-off workers.
This year business in Salem got off to a slow start... and so far, business is still slow.
Scott Goldberg, News-7,Salem.))
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

G-E is giving the laid off workers severance pay and benefits for the next year.
The company is also offering job-training classes to help its former employees find work.

[E-Salem-Land]

A piece of land many people in Salem want to preserve as open space may soon be open for business.
Salem City Council last night voted to develop a master plan for the Elizabeth Campus.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

Economic development officials and some residents say the 52-acre site is a prime spot for light industry.
The city planning commission has recommended mixed-use development.
But dozens of people at the public hearing said the best use of the property would be recreation and appreciation.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You would take]
((EMILY BRADY: YOU WOULD TAKE OUR VIEW. YOU WOULD TAKE OUR SCENERY. YOU WOULD IN FACT TAKE A BIT OF OUR SERENITY. THE ELIZABETH CAMPUS IS ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL, SOOTHING, VISUAL OASIS.))
[SUPER=07-Emily Brady;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=visual oasis.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But council members said Salem needs tax revenue and jobs as much as open space, to meet school construction and other needs.
(------------)

[Missing-Student]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The search continues for a missing Virginia Tech student.
They're looking for 24- year old Robert Kovack, who disappeared more than a week ago.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fayette Co., WV/Yesterday;]

On Monday, authorities concentrated their efforts on Fayette County, West Virginia.
They were especially interested in combing the area around the New River Gorge Bridge.
That's the general area where Kovack's red geo tracker was discovered last week.
Kovack's friends told police the 24- year old left his Blacksburg apartment on Friday, September 18th, en route to West Virginia to attend a college football game.
His car was discovered four days later.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We found]
((BRAD MANKINS/WV STATE TROOPER:HE'S YOUR AVERAGE 24- YEAR OLD KID, EVERYONE WE'VE SPOKE TO, SPOKE HIGHLY OF HI, EVERYONE SAYS HE'S BEEN IN GOOD SPIRITS, HAS NO IDEA WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED TO HIM. ))
[SUPER=01-Brad Mankins/WV State Trooper; :00]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=happened to him.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Authorities say they found no evidence that a struggle took place inside Kovack's vehicle or around it.
At this point, they suspect he MAY have left his car and gotten into someone's else's vehicle.
(----------------)

[2-GEORGE]

It's down to tropical storm status this morning, but Georges hanging around the Gulf Coast for awhile.
It's moving slowly to the east and while the winds are weakening the states of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia face the threat of heavy rain.
Some spots have already received over two feet.
Drew Levinson has the latest from Biloxi.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[5:00:oo]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA;]
[SUPER=03-Mobile, AL;]
[SUPER=01-J. P. Vanhook/Emergency Management Director;]
[SUPER=03-Biloxi, MS]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:59]
[OUT Q= Biloxi MS.]
((SUPER: New Orleans, LA
HURRICANE GEORGE CONTINUES TO LEAVE HIS MARK ON THE GULF COAST. THE
STORM'S WINDS HAVE DROPPED TO TROPICAL STORM LEVELS, -- BUT THAT HASN'T
STOPPED THE RAIN FROM FALLING.
THERE'S MASSIVE FLOODING FROM LOUISIANA TO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE.
SUPER: Mobile, AL
BECAUSE GEORGES IS MOVING SO SLOWLY, FORECASTERS PREDICT SOME PARTS
COULD GET AS MUCH AS 30 INCHES OF RAIN BY MIDWEEK.AND THAT'S BAD NEWS
FOR FOLKS IN MOBILE ALABAMA, WHERE MUCH OF THAT CITY IS ALREADY UNDER
WATER.
(SOT: J.P. Vanhook, Dir. Mobile Emerg. Management)
"Right now my biggest concern is the storm surge and the people affected
in the low lying areas."
GEORGES BLEW DOWN TREES AND KNOCKED OUT POWER TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES:
SOT:
"I WAS REAL SCARED.. I WAS SCARED THE ROOF WOULD FALL IN ON US."
((TRACK 2))
SUPER: Biloxi, MS
ROOFS WERE BLOWN OFF AT TWO SHELTERS WHERE 500 PEOPLE WERE
SEEKING REFUGE...NO ONE INJURED.
SOT:

"It could be worse, we could have all lost our lives last night."
SUPER: New Orleans, LA
ON NEW ORLEANS FAMED BOURBAN STREET GEORGES KNOWS HOW TO SPOIL A
PARTY...THAT STREET THAT'S USUALLY PACKED IS EMPTY.
DL, CBS NEWS, BILOXI, MS.))

[Record-Concert]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin']
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-60]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A concert in downtown Roanoke last night was part of a band's effort to get into the Guiness Book of World Records.
The group "Jackyl" played to more than a thousand people.
David Johnson was there and has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The lead singer]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :01]
[SUPER=01-Jessie James Dupree/Jackyl Lead Singer; :18]
[SUPER=01-Skip Brown/Digital Concepts Recording; :55]
[SUPER=@David1; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=DJO, N7.]
((The lead singer of Jackyl says this world record attempt is a part of a celebration that verifies rock n' roll is still alive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sot]
((nat sound))
[RUNS06]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We got a]
((JESSIE JAMES DUPREE/JACKYL'S LEAD SINGER:WE GOT A NEW ALBUM THAT JUST CAME OUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO CALLED CHOICE CUTS. AND WE THOUGHT WHAT A WAY TO INTRODUCE THE NEW ALBUM THAN TO CREATE AN EVENT ANE GO OUT AND SET A GUINESS WORLD RECORD OF 100 CONCERTS IN 50 DAYS.))
[RUNS14]
[OUT Q=in 50 days.]

One would think such a grueling pace would be trying at the least. But, Jessie James says this five-man band has always had dreams of doing fun things.
So, how did the group manage to land in downtown Roanoke?
Its label, Geffen Records needed to send the show to a west-coast radio station for a live broadcast.
Digital Concepts Recording owners says they were the only ones that could do this.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've got the]
((SKIP BROWN: WE'VE GOT THE DIGITAL EXUIPMENT TO PROVIDE THE SATELITE UPLINK OUT TO THE WEST COAST TO SEND IT BACK UP THE STREET.))
[RUNS09]
[OUTQ=back up the street.]

Jackyl prides itself on breaking records including being the loudest band, with thunderous drums, bass guitar, and a chain saw.
A chain saw?
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What a definitive]
((WHAT A DEFINITIVE INSTRUMENT FOR ROCK N' ROLL. THE CHAIN SAW. IT'S LOUD, AGGRESSIVE, ABRASIVE, DESTRUCTIVE. AND WHEN YOU CRANK IT UP YOU GET THAT SMELL OF TWO IN ONE OIL IN THE AIR. WE CALL THAT THE HIGH OF THE 90'S.))
[RUNS09]
[OUT Q=of the 90's.]
[STAND-UP/]
((DAVID JOHNSON/REPORTING; ROANOKE IS THE 30TH STOP FOR THE GROUP. THE BAND PLAYS IN RICHMOND SOMETIME THIS MORNING AND IN PETERSBURG LATER TODAY. DAVID JOHNSON, NEWS7.))))

[5-Log-Cabin]

A rare log cabin will be demolished unless business leaders, residents and city officials succeed in getting a demolition order reversed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

They think if they clean up the historic (HOW-bert) Howbert House, a judge may allow the cabin to stand.
It's been condemned for safety reasons.
Amos Construction donated thousands of dollars worth of machines and labor.
Contractors pried up the porch -- they'd heard rumors of a slate floor underneath.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:54:47]
[IN Q=As a neighborhood]
((AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, WE FEEL THE BEST USE FOR THE PROPERTY IS A COMMUNITY CENTER, A HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT TO BRING OUT THE HISTORIC ASPECTS OF OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY AND TO USE THE BIGGEST PART OF THE LAND AS A PARK.))
[SUPER=01-Tony Martin/Neighborhood Organization;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=as a park]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The cabin plus nine acres is for sale for a quarter million dollars.
A judge decides Thursday whether the cabin must be destroyed.
(------------)

[cubs-wildcard]

Mark McGwire has his home run title.
But Sammy Sosa now has his own chance at baseball history.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]
[4:06:44]
Sosa and his Chicago Cubs are heading to the National League playoffs after beating the San Francisco Giants in a one- game playoff last night.
Chicago has seen its Bulls win six N-B-A titles.
But the Cubs haven't won a World Series since 19-08.
Sosa had two hits, but no home runs.
That leaves him with 66 for the season, second all-time to McGwire's
(----------------)

[3-Sports]

In local sports news, the U-V-A football team is sticking together as the squad prepares for an out- of conference matchup.
Denise Allen has details.
Good Morning Denise.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=good day.]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

The fate of Tommy David Strickler may be announced today.
The U-S Supreme Court is considering an appeal in the case and may rule today.
Strickler was sentenced to death for the 19-90 murder of Roanoke native Leann Whitlock.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

About a hundred slaried employees at Salem's G-E plant won't be returning to work.
Some 245 workers were given pink slips earlier in the year.
Including yesterday's layoffs, General Electric has cut nearly 20 percent of the Salem workforce.
The laid off workers will get severance pay and benefits for a year, as well as help in finding new jobs.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Salem City Council wants a master plan for the Elizabeth Campus.
Last night, Council voted to develop the plan.
The Planning Commission has already suggested mixed-use development of the land.
But many people at last night's public meeting said the land would be best used for recreation and should be kept as open space.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
[2 shot=Mel/Kmc]
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]